Syndication One talker Warren Ballentine lost a portion of his 3 hour syndicated radio show in Atlanta this week when CBS Radio WAOK (1380 AM) dropped the first hour of his daily show to make room for Westwood One’s Gayle King Show . The loss of the 10A-11A hour is a setback for Ballentine who fought to get back into the Atlanta market after Radio One Urban AC WAMJ-FM dropped both Ballentine and Al Sharpton from their line-up back in January 2009.

Arbitron’s latest RADAR 105 report released today shows that radio reaches more than 239 million persons aged 12 and older over the course of a typical week, up from 213 million listeners one year ago in RADAR 101. Radio syndication company Dial Global held onto to the top ratings positions in the report that was released Monday (June 21) and covers the period April 2, 2009 to March 31, 2010.
Dial Global’s Contemporary, Complete FM and Adult Power Networks were ranked one-two-three in Adults 18-49, the same ranking as the previous …

VH1 Classic and Westwood One have announced “VH1 Classic Rock Nights,” the new nightly syndicated radio show hosted by classic rock radio veteran, Eddie Webb. Beginning Monday, May 17, the show will air weeknights from 7:00pm — 12:00am ET live from VH1 Classic’s state-of-the art studio in New York. During its first week, “VH1 Classic Rock Nights” will welcome guests Ray Manzarek and John Densmore of The Doors, Mick Jones of Foreigner and Paul Rodgers of Free and Bad Company.  At launch, “VH1 …

Westwood One Network Radio has made changes to it’s affiliate sales team effective immediately. Stuart Greenblatt returns to the syndicator as Senior Director overseeing station affiliations for the syndicated radio network’s new Harpo Radio products as well as other talk radio programming. Greenblatt rejoins Westwood One after nine months as head of the affiliate sales department for Air America. Rezell Simmons returns to Westwood One as Regional Director overseing Urban/CHR clearances for programming including “The Fab 30 with Perez Hilton” and the MTV Radio Network. …

Kevin & Bean sidekick new co-host of “Loveline with Dr. Drew Pinsky.”

The Wendy Williams Show, the daily one-hour talk program hosted by former Westwood One syndicated radio personality Wendy Williams ,  has been renewed for another season. According to Demar-Mercury executives, The Wendy Williams Show will be shown in 80 percent of the U.S. through 2012. Carriage covers 18 of the top 20 markets including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas and other top markets. Joining the Fox Television Stations group in presenting the …

Westwood One has announced that gossip blogger Perez Hilton is set to launch a weekly countdown radio show as an alternative to Premiere Radio Network’s Ryan Seacrest.  Hilton’s new radio program promises a “cooler alternative” to “On-Air with Ryan Seacrest,” which has been airing since 2004.
According to Billboard.com, Hilton, whose real name is Mario Lavandeira, will countdown the top 40 with his own hand picked set list.
A regular fixture with A-listers in Hollywood and the music industry, Hilton will use his rapport to add some sass to on-air interviews. Hilton explained that he wants …

Dial Global and Premiere Radio Networks each placed four ad networks among the top 10 in Arbitron’s March RADAR 104 radio network ratings for persons 25-54.  Dial Global  has three out of the top five ranked networks Adults 25-54. Dial Global also continues to have the top three ranked networks in the key buying demo of Adults 18-49.  United Stations finished in the top 10 in both demos, while Westwood One placed one of its networks in the top 10 in 25-54. Arbitron says more than 189 million persons 12+ …

Westwood One and Harpo Radio, Inc. today announced a multi-year partnership to distribute The Gayle King Show, a two-hour, daily syndicated radio talk program hosted by newscaster and television personality Gayle King. The partnership will include distribution of additional Harpo Radio programming, including Gayle King Evening, a new, five-hour weeknight entertainment program featuring music, guests and topical conversation. Westwood One will also distribute a daily feature from Dr. Mehmet Oz , host of daytime television’s newest hit, The Dr. Oz Show, as well as a three-hour weekend program.
“Today marks an …

Ex-CBS Radio host and Westwood One syndicated radio talent Tom Leykis makes his return next week on Mount Wilson FM Broadcasters KGIL-FM Los Angeles. Leykis was among the talk personality casualties who lost their jobs when KLSX 97.1 FM Los Angeles switched to the Top 40 AMP format in February 2009.

Leykis’ syndicated radio show “The Tasting Room,” which was dropped by Westwood One and is described by Leykis as a “lifestyle-themed program for men with a taste for the finer things life, from fine wine, high-end spirits and craft brews …